EXCHANGE OF GENETIC MATERIAL

ASSIGNMENT ON

PRAGYAN SAHU

SUBMITTED BY
BY:
PRANGYA
PRIYADARSHINI
REGISTRATION NO.222104320043
222104320027
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN FORENSIC SCIENCE(SEMESTER 1)

SUBMITTED FOR SUBJECT EVALUATION

CUTM 2455-GENERAL BIOLOGY
SUBMITTED ON: FEBRUARY 06,2023

SUBMITTED TO:
DR. GYANARANJAN MAHALIK
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCE
CENTURION UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
BHUBANESWAR CAMPUS,ODISHA
 Exchange of Genetic Material
Genetic recombination (also known as genetic reshuffling) is the exchange of genetic material
between different organisms which leads to production of offspring with combination of traits
that differ from those found in either parent.
There are three types of genetic exchange occurring naturally in association with prokaryotic
organisms; these are Transformation, Conjugation and Transduction.

TRANSFORMATION
Transformation is the specific process where exogenous genetic material is directly taken up and
incorporated by a cell through its cell membrane. This usually occurs when the cell is in a state of
competence, which is a state where the cell can uptake exogenous material.

GRIFFITH EXPERIMENT AND TRANSFORMING PRINCIPLE

Griffith experiment was a stepping stone for the discovery of genetic material. Frederick Griffith
experiments were conducted with Streptococcus pneumoniae.
During the experiment, Griffith cultured Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria which showed two
patterns of growth. One culture plate consisted of smooth shiny colonies (S) while other
consisted of rough colonies (R). The difference was due to the presence of mucous coat in S
strain bacteria, whereas the R strain bacteria lacked them.
Experiment:
Griffith injected both S and R strains to mice. The one which was infected with the S strain
developed pneumonia and died while that infected with the R strain stayed alive.
In the second stage, Griffith heat-killed the S strain bacteria and injected into mice, but the mice
stayed alive. Then, he mixed the heat-killed S and live R strains. This mixture was injected into
mice and they died. In addition, he found living S strain bacteria in dead mice.
Conclusion: Based on the observation, Griffith concluded that R strain bacteria had been
transformed by S strain bacteria. The R strain inherited some ‘transforming principle’ from the
heat-killed S strain bacteria which made them virulent. And he assumed this transforming
principle as genetic material.

CONJUGATION
Conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells by direct cell to cell
contact or by a bridge like connection between two cells. Conjugation as a mode of sexual
reproduction seen in bacteria and some ciliated protozoa.
There are various conjugal plasmids carried by various bacterial species. Conjugation is carried
out in several steps:

 Mating pair formation

 Conjugal DNA synthesis
 DNA transfer
 Maturation

Mechanism of Bacterial Conjugation

Bacterial conjugation involves the following steps:
Pilus Formation
The donor cells (F+ cells) form a sex pilus and begin contact with an F- recipient cell.
Physical Contact between Donor and Recipient Cell
The pilus forms a conjugation tube and enables direct contact between the donor and the
recipient cells.
Transfer of F-Plasmid
The F-factor opens at the origin of replication. One strand is cut at the origin of replication, and
the 5’ end enters the recipient cell.
Synthesis of Complementary Strand
The donor and the recipient strand both contain a single strand of the F-plasmid. Thus, a
complementary strand is synthesized in both the recipient and the donor. The recipient cell now
contains a copy of F plasmid and becomes a donor cell.

TRANSDUCTION
Transduction is the process of transfer of genes from the recipient to the donor through
bacteriophage.
Bacterial Transduction

Transduction is of two types:

 Generalized Transduction
 Specialized Transduction

Generalized Transduction
In this type, the bacteriophage first infects the donor cells and begins the lytic cycle. The virus
then develops its components using the host cell machinery. The host cell DNA is hydrolyzed
into small fragments by the viral enzymes.
Small pieces of bacteria DNA is now integrated into viral genome. When the virus infects
another bacteria DNA is transferred into it.

Specialized Transduction
In this, only a few restricted bacteria are transferred from donor to recipient bacteria. This is
carried out by temperate bacteriophage which undergoes the lysogenic cycle.
The virus enters the bacteria and integrates its genome within the host cell DNA. It remains
dormant and passes on from generation to generation. When the lysogenic cell is exposed to
some external stimulus, the lytic cycle begins.
The viral genome is induced in the host cell genome. Due to this, the phage genome sometimes
carries the bacterial genome with it and integrates it into the genome of the recipient cell. Here,
only the restricted genome has the possibility of entering the recipient cells.